UH medical school offers space to biotech firms

The John A. Burns Medical School in Kakaako is offering to rent office space to a limited number of biotech companies.

The program is called BioSPOTS, Bioscience Space Program with Offices and Technology Systems.

"This is an opportunity for emerging biotech entrepreneurs to collaborate with Hawaii's top medical researchers in our state-of-the-art facilities," Dr. Lawrence Burgess, director of the school's Telehealth Research Institute and program coordinator, said in a news release.

The program is conducted under a $3 million federal grant that helped pay for equipment to support research and training at the medical school. It is aimed at attracting private capital investment and creating biotech jobs in Hawaii.

The leasable space is in the second floor of the Medical Education Building, with eight offices and eight cubicles.

Each company is allowed to rent two offices and two cubicles.

The cost for an office and cubicle combination, about 160 square feet, is estimated at $400 per month, the school said.

Companies also will have access to lab space for some collaborative projects.

Priority will be given to companies conducting biotechnology research and development programs with UH or the medical school and that potentially could bring new bioscience business and jobs to Hawaii.

For more information, contact Burgess at lburgess@ hawaii.edu or call 692-1080.